An alcoholic who drummed to beat the booze has had her bongos confiscated.

Unemployed Sharon Nesbitt kept her neighbours awake as she repeatedly drummed deep into the night.

The 39-year-old who was ordered to pay nearly £2,000 in fines after she admitted breaching a noise abatement notice, pleaded with magistrates “don’t take my soul and my bongos.”

Brighton Magistrates’ Court was told Brighton and Hove City Council served the notice in December last year after repeated complaints about Nesbitt’s behaviour.

In February this year she was convicted of breaching the notice for the first time and was fined £600 with £750 costs.

So far she has not paid any of the money owed.

Nesbitt, of Halland Road, Moulsecoomb, was back in court yesterday for breaching the notice a second time.

The court was told neighbours had suffered from her loud music blasting out of her one-bedroom flat as well as shouting, doors slamming and the noise from her bongos.

Music equipment seized by the council is given away to charities, schools and non-profit organisations. Anyone interested in receiving the equipment should contact the council's environmental health department at 01273 292259.